Study Visit to the University of Milan: New Perspectives for Future One Health Projects

Purpose of the Visit

The main goal of the visit was to see the University of Milan’s facilities and equipment, learn about their management methods, and review innovation management and technology transfer models that support research commercialization. Additional attention was devoted to planning and implementing large-scale campus projects, including the recently built veterinary and animal science campus in Lodi and the ambitious development of a new university campus in the Milan Innovation District (MIND) on the former EXPO 2015 site.

Delegation from Estonia

The study trip brought together representatives of the Estonian University of Life Sciences and the University of Tartu:

Ülle Jaakma, Rector, Estonian University of Life Sciences
Toomas Tiirats, Director, Institute of Veterinary Medicine and Animal Sciences
Prof. Alireza Fazeli
Katrin Kepp, Head of the Knowledge Transfer and Innovation Department
Kristina Kurm, Head of Marketing and Communications
From the University of Tartu: Prof. Maris Laan, Vice‑Dean for Research (Faculty of Medicine), and Assoc. Prof. Radko Avi, Medical Virology

The group was warmly welcomed by Prof. Tiziana Brevini, Prof. Georgia Pennarossa, and Sharon Arcuri from the University of Milan’s Faculty of Veterinary Medicine and Animal Science.

Key Highlights of the Program

Historic Ca’ Granda Campus
The visit began at Ca’ Granda, a 600‑year‑old former hospital complex that suffered heavy damage during WWII and has since been carefully restored. Today it hosts mainly humanities students and part of the university administration, offering a perspective on integrating heritage sites into modern university operations.

Veterinary and Animal Science Campus in Lodi
Guided by Prof. Gaia Cecilia Rita Luvoni, the delegation toured the teaching and research complex and animal clinic in Lodi. Unlike space‑constrained urban projects, the campus showcases openness, abundant light, and extensive glass surfaces. Its largest lecture hall seats nearly 400 students, and the spatial program is logical and functional, supporting high‑quality work environments for students, researchers, and faculty.

MIND – Milan Innovation District
Prof. Gian Battista Bischetti (Vice‑Rector for the new campus project) presented the university’s large‑scale infrastructure plan at MIND. The development enjoys strong support from the city and region to ensure the EXPO area remains vibrant. Within the next few years, approximately 4,000 university staff and 20,000 students are expected to relocate there. The plan includes entirely new teaching and research buildings for natural and exact sciences and, together with private partners, student housing. Sustainability is a foundational principle, and construction has already begun. Prof. Bischetti also emphasized the organizational challenge of managing staff expectations during the relocation.

Innovation and Technology Transfer
Meetings with the rectorate focused on innovation support and tech transfer. The University of Milan operates both bottom‑up and top‑down mechanisms: staff and students can apply for support to test and develop research‑based solutions, while innovation support teams maintain close contact with researchers, track results, and provide commercialization guidance. The co‑location of companies and the university in one district amplifies innovation, and Milan has a strong pool of potential investors willing to back start‑ups.

Key Outcomes for Estonian Partners

Actionable references for facility planning: Concrete examples of spatial programming, lecture hall capacity, daylight use, and functional layouts in veterinary and animal science settings.
Blueprints for innovation support: Practical understanding of dual (bottom‑up/top‑down) innovation models and how proximity to industry accelerates commercialization.
Guidance for large‑scale development: Lessons from MIND’s governance, stakeholder support, and the human side of relocation management.
Direct applicability at home: Insights will inform ongoing preparations for the new small animal clinic at the Estonian University of Life Sciences. As Rector Ülle Jaakma noted, while financial scales differ, well‑thought‑out spatial programs and other solutions provide valuable examples to follow.